Sound box for sound-reproducing machines



Feb. 27, 1923.

J. H. DICKINSON SOUND BOX FOR SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINES Filed Dec 161919 moawiioz Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

' UNITED STATES JOSEPH HUNTER DICKINSON, OF LABCHHONT, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

OUND BOX FOB SOUN'D-REPRODUCING MACHINES.

Application filed December 18, 1919. Serial No. 845,210.

To all whom it my concern Be it known that I, J osnrn H. DICKINSON, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Larchmont,W'estchester County, New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sound Boxes for Sound-Reproducing Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in sound-boxes and moreparticularly to a sound-box provided with means readily controllable bythe operator for adjusting the effective size of the diaphragm, myimprovement being a very useful one because the various instruments andvoices are best reproduced by certain sizes of diaphragms to theexclusion of other sizes.

The annexed drawings 'show only one of the preferred forms my inventionis adapted to take. In them, Fig. 1 is a face-view of a sound-box withinmy invention, partly broken away to reveal the inside structure; Fig; 2is a sectional view partly in elevation on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a similar view exceptthat it is on the line 3-3 in said Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is also a similar viewbut on the line 55 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4: is a rear view of thesound-box of Fig. l.

Describing now the devices of the draw ings, the illustrated sound-boxcomprises a cup-shaped body-portion 1, a diaphragm 2, stylus-bar 3pivotally supported at 4 on lugs 5 integral with said body of the box,said stylus-bar having the usual foot 3 secured to the center of thediaphragm.

On opposite sides of the diaphragm are a pair of rotatable rings 6 and 7respectively carrying gaskets 8 and 9 on the r faces next the diaphragm,those shown being lntended preferably to be rubber-gaskets, one of largediameter, the other of small dlameter, cemented in annular groovesprovided for the purpose in the faces of the aforesaid rings. Theserings 6 and 7 have screw-threaded engagement with the body of the box at10 and 11 respectively, the threads running 1n the same direction.

Each ring 6 and 7 has a rigid lug 12 projecting laterally from it awayfrom the d1aphragm. The lug 12 on the ring 7 projects through anarc-shaped opening 13 in the back of the sound-box; and the lug 12 onthe other ring 6 similarly projects through an arc-shaped opening 14 inthe front '15,

the latter consisting of a ring-shaped plate (whose cross-section isshown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5) secured by screws 16 to the mouth of the body1 of the sound-box. 17 is a U- shaped yoke having finger-piece 17, saidyoke rigidly uniting the aforesaid lugs 1212 and the screw-rings 6 and7, whereby adjusting the finger-piece and yoke 17 circumferentially ofthe sound-box in either direction (permitted by the arc-shaped slots 13and 14) will similarly rotate the screwrings 6 and 7 and will at thesame time adjust them laterally relatively to the diaphragm 2, but inopposite directions,that is to say, as one screw-ring approaches thediaphragm, the other will recede from it.

Opposed to the gasket 8 on the screw-ring 6 is a stationary gasket 18cemented to the body'of the box as shown. Also opposed to the gasket 9on the other screw-ring 7 is a gasket 19 cemented as shown to thefrontplate 15 of the sound-box.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the different results of adjusting the finger andyoke 17 in opposite directions. Thus, in Fig. 2, the screw-ring 6 hascarried its gasket 8 to the right and has forced the diaphragm overagainst the stationary gasket 18, the two gaskets gripping the diaphragmbetween them. This same movement has taken the diaphragm out of contactwith the smaller stationary gasket 19. Thus, in Fig. 2, the full size ofthe diaphragm is effective or in play.

In Fig. 3, there has been a reverse adjustment of the parts, reducingthe effective size of the diaphragm to that contained within the smallgaskets 919. In this figure, the adjustment has carried the ring 7 andits gasket 9 to the left and has forced the diaphragm over against thestationary gasket 19, and at the same time (compare Fig. 2) has carriedthe diaphragm away from contact with the gasket 18. This lattereliminates the buzzing noises which might occur if the diaphragmremained in contact with the gasket 18 in Fig. 3. The same applies tothe gasket 19 in Fig. 2.

The reason/why adjusting the yoke 17 takes the diaphragm out of contactwith the said gasket 18 in Fig. 3 (and out of contact with said gasket19 in Fig. 2) is that the net lateral distance between said twostationary gaskets is made greater than the thickness of the diaphragm.

Similarly, the net lateral distance between tit) (lid

the two adjustable or screw-ring gaskets 8 and 9 is purposely madegreater than the thickness of the diaphragm, so that whichever is notgripping the diaphragm (viz: 9 in Fig. 2 and 8 in Fig. 3) is out ofcontact therewith and therefore cannot result In buzzing or othernoises.

ll preferably provide means for preventing rotary displacement of thediaphragm Without interfering with its slight lateral displacement sdescribed above. The means shown for this purpose consists of anintegral tongue or tongues 2 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5 projecting outwardly fromthe periphery of the diaphragm and seated in recesses 1 provided for thepurpose in the body of the sound-box.

Uf course, it is conceivable that the gasket instead of being made aspreferred of rubber might consist of mere ridges or the like on thescrew-rings 6 and 7 or on the parts 1 and 15. Also other changes andmodifications might be made both in the materials used and in thepreferred construction as shown and described which nevertheless willstill be within the spirit of this inventive disclosure and these I meanto be covered by the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of agasket-member laterally adjustable to and from one side of saiddiaphragm, another gasket-member of different diameter adjustable to andfrom the other side of said diaphragm, and means in common foroppositely adjusting both gasketmembers so that when either is againstthe diaphragm, the other is removed from it.

2. The combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of agasket-member laterally adjustable to and from one side of saiddiaphragm, another gasket-member of difterent diameter adjustable to andfrom the other side of said diaphragm, and means in common foroppositely adjusting both gasket-members so that when either is againstthe diaphragm, the other is removed from it; stationary gasket-membersopposed to the adjustable gasket-members, one opposite each adjustablegasket-member on the other side of the diaphragm.

3. The combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of agasket-member laterally adjustable to and from one side of saiddiaphragm, another gasket-member of different diameter adjustable to andfrom the other side of said diaphragm, and means in common foroppositely adjusting both gasketmembers so that when either is againstthe diaphragm, the other is removed from it; stationary gasket-membersopposed to the adjustable gasket-members, one opposite each adjustablegasket-member on the other side of the diaphragm; the lateral distancebetween the said stationary gasket-members aaaeee being a little greaterthan the thickness of the diaphragm, as is also the lateral distancebetween the adjustable gasket-members.

4:. The combination with a sound box and its diaphragm, of pairs ofgasket members of relatively different diameters, one member of eachpair being laterally adjustable to engage and disengage relatively to aside of the diaphragm, and means for moving one of said adjustablegasket members into engagement with the diaphragm and concurrentlymoving the other adjustable gasket member in a direction away from thediaphragm.

5. The combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of a ringprovided with a gasket-member at one side of the diaphragm, and havingscrew-threaded engagement with the sound-box so that turning the ring inone direction or the other adjusts the gasketmember to or from thediaphragm, another ring on the opposite side of the diaphragm having adifferent diametered gasket-member from the first-named gasket-member,and also having screw-threaded engagement with the sound-box so thatturning said ring in one direction or the other adjusts itsgasket-member to or from said diaphragm, both of said rings beingscrewthreaded in the same direction; and a fingerpiece attached to bothrings for effecting the simultaneous adjustment in opposite direc tionsof said rings and gasket-members.

6. The combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of a ringprovided with a gasket-member at one side of the diaphragm, and havingscrew-threaded engagement with the sound-box so that turning the ring inone direction or the other adjusts the gas ket-member to or from thediaphragm, another ring on the opposite side of the diaphragm having adifferent diametered gasket-member from the first named gasketmember,and also having screw-threaded engagement with the sound-box so thatturning said ring in one direction or the other adjusts itsgasket-member to or from said diaphragm, both of said rings beingscrewthreaded in the same direction; a fingerpiece attached to bothrings for effecting the simultaneous adjustment in opposite directionsof said rings and gasket-members; and stationary gasket-members opposedto the adjustable gasket-members, one opposite each adjustablegasket-member on the other side of the diaphragm.

7. The combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of a ringprovided with a gasket-member at one side of the diaphragm, and havingscrew-threaded engagement with the sound-box so that turning the ring inone direction or the other adjusts the gasketmember to or from thediaphragm, another ring on the opposite side of the diaphragm having adifferent diametered gasket-member from the first named ket-member, andalso having screw-threa ed engagement with the sound-box so that turningsaid ring in one direction or the other adjusts its gasket-member to orfrom said diaphragm,

both of said rings being screw-threaded in the same direction; afinger-piece attached to both rings for effecting the simultaneousadjustment in opposite directions of said rin s and gasket-members; andstationary gasiet-members opposed to the adjustable gasket-members, oneopposite each ad'ustable gasket-member on the other side 0 thediaphragm; the lateral distance between the stationary gasket-membersbeing a little greater than the thickness of the diaphragm, as is alsothe lateral distance betweeen the gasket-members on the adjustablerings.

8. The combination with asound-box and a diaphragm, therein theperipheral edge of which is capable of lateral displacement re1- ativelyto the sound box, of a ring provided with a gasket-member at one side ofthe diaphragm and having screw-threaded engagement with the sound-box sothat turnmg the ring in one direction or the other, adjusts thegasket-member to or from the diaphragm, an opposed gasket-member on theopposite side of the diaphragm, and means at the periphery of thediaphragm preventing it from turning although permittin lateraldisplacement thereo 9. Tie combination with a sound-box and itsdiaphragm, of a plurality of pairs of opposed gasket-members forengaging said diaphragm at different distances from its center; andmeans for selectively ad'usting the gasket-members laterally to an fromsaid diaphragm to cause one pair of gasket members to clamp thediaphragm and another pair of gasket members to disengage from thediaphragm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this15th day of December, 1919.

JOSEPH HUNTER DICKINSON.

